It's pretty late, and I can't seem to fall asleep! I've been tossing and turning all night! Ugh . . . it is very frustrating I must say. I don't know what it is. I'm sitting at my computer drinking some oj (the drink not the Simpson). I would've picked milk only I don't like milk unless it's chocolate. But we don't have any chocolate. Mom told me we had ovaltine, but all I could find was this funny old box of "Cocoa" that looked like it was manufactured in 1973. I read the label and it said I could make hot chocolate or hot-fudge squares. So I decided to go with oj (the drink not the Simpson). Man, oh man, am I killing time or what. I do have quite a bit on my mind, however.
I've been thinking a lot about my heart (that is the things which motivate me, drive me, etc). I know my heart is wicked. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" -Jeremiah 17:9. There are many things which the Lord is revealing to me which I need to think about and repent of most definitely. I see how certain things which my flesh craves run and control my life. I am driven by the things which my heart desires, and these things easily become idols which I blindly and rebelliously worship and treasure more than the Lord. I hate it. I really do. Therefore, I need Jesus. I am in such desperate need of Him every moment of the day, and my heart aches to be with Him in heaven that I might experience what it means to have sin totally eradicated from my body. I long to dwell in the Heavenly City, the New Jerusalem, where my allegiance will never be compromised by the foolish things of this broken, fallen, sinful world. But my agenda would be solely that of the King, and my desire would be wholly and distinctly for Him alone.
I can't blame the things which the Lord has created and declared "good" as cause for my frustration and rebellion. James writes "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" -James 1:13-15. Oh the heinousness and deceitfulness of sin! How it sneaks up on me like a thief, and robs me of the worship and allegiance I owe to King Jesus! Now I see why Christ was always exhorting his disciples to "Stay on their guard." And as the author of Hebrews writes: "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." - Hebrews 3:12-13.
I need my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, people who care more about my sanctification than they do about offending or creating conflict with me to exhort, rebuke, correct, and bear patiently with me that I may die more and more unto sin and live wholly unto righteousness in every area of my life. Paul Tripp writes: "It is a sweet grace when we are surrounded by people who love us enough to confront us - who are unwilling to let us stay lost, blind, confused, rebellious, and wandering away. It is a sign of God's covenant faithfulness when he sends people to help us see and repent." I am so grateful for the people (the best friends I'll ever have because they are united to the King along with myself) in my life who aren't afraid to rebuke me in love, tenderness, and with encouraging spirits about them. I know I haven't been this kind of friend to people I care about. Then again, do I REALLY care about them? Or do I exalt my own desires of comfort, ease, and for people to "like" me above the best interest of the person? Is my reputation and appearance weightier than that of a man's eternity?
I know I don't relate to people the way I should because I am a sinner, but the Lord reminds me to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance." Although I know I will fail miserably at how I deal with my sin; it is my duty, nevertheless, to deal with it because I have been commanded to and because it is the path to life. "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" -Romans 8:12-14. What a wonderful plan of redemption the Father has revealed in the Son by his eternal Spirit! And what a joy it is to lay down my agenda and pick up his! What greater gift could a man receive than the gift of Christ and of being conformed and transformed unto his image? Now I am tired. I think I shall go to bed and rest awhile now. But I leave with this:
"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For
the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the
sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if
you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:
sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord,
jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom
of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ
Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each
other" -Galatians 5:16-26.
Goodnite.
I've been thinking a lot about my heart (that is the things which motivate me, drive me, etc). I know my heart is wicked. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" -Jeremiah 17:9. There are many things which the Lord is revealing to me which I need to think about and repent of most definitely. I see how certain things which my flesh craves run and control my life. I am driven by the things which my heart desires, and these things easily become idols which I blindly and rebelliously worship and treasure more than the Lord. I hate it. I really do. Therefore, I need Jesus. I am in such desperate need of Him every moment of the day, and my heart aches to be with Him in heaven that I might experience what it means to have sin totally eradicated from my body. I long to dwell in the Heavenly City, the New Jerusalem, where my allegiance will never be compromised by the foolish things of this broken, fallen, sinful world. But my agenda would be solely that of the King, and my desire would be wholly and distinctly for Him alone.
I can't blame the things which the Lord has created and declared "good" as cause for my frustration and rebellion. James writes "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" -James 1:13-15. Oh the heinousness and deceitfulness of sin! How it sneaks up on me like a thief, and robs me of the worship and allegiance I owe to King Jesus! Now I see why Christ was always exhorting his disciples to "Stay on their guard." And as the author of Hebrews writes: "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." - Hebrews 3:12-13.
I need my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, people who care more about my sanctification than they do about offending or creating conflict with me to exhort, rebuke, correct, and bear patiently with me that I may die more and more unto sin and live wholly unto righteousness in every area of my life. Paul Tripp writes: "It is a sweet grace when we are surrounded by people who love us enough to confront us - who are unwilling to let us stay lost, blind, confused, rebellious, and wandering away. It is a sign of God's covenant faithfulness when he sends people to help us see and repent." I am so grateful for the people (the best friends I'll ever have because they are united to the King along with myself) in my life who aren't afraid to rebuke me in love, tenderness, and with encouraging spirits about them. I know I haven't been this kind of friend to people I care about. Then again, do I REALLY care about them? Or do I exalt my own desires of comfort, ease, and for people to "like" me above the best interest of the person? Is my reputation and appearance weightier than that of a man's eternity?
I know I don't relate to people the way I should because I am a sinner, but the Lord reminds me to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance." Although I know I will fail miserably at how I deal with my sin; it is my duty, nevertheless, to deal with it because I have been commanded to and because it is the path to life. "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" -Romans 8:12-14. What a wonderful plan of redemption the Father has revealed in the Son by his eternal Spirit! And what a joy it is to lay down my agenda and pick up his! What greater gift could a man receive than the gift of Christ and of being conformed and transformed unto his image? Now I am tired. I think I shall go to bed and rest awhile now. But I leave with this:
"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For
the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the
sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if
you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:
sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord,
jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom
of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ
Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each
other" -Galatians 5:16-26.
Goodnite.
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